Downtown Springfield is in need of some revitalization, and thanks to some new legislation that revitalization might be coming sooner rather than later.

One look around Downtown Springfield, there's not a whole lot of activity, but that could soon change.

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Thanks to new legislation, the City of Springfield is one of nine communities designated as a Rural Zone to allow for tax credits to lure businesses to their downtown area.

"This Rural Zone is something that's going to allow us to put us on the same playing field as some of those other areas that already have more people, and more infrastructure and more traffic than we do right now," said Erin Phillips, Springfield, Community Development Director.

And these tax credits and prospects of new businesses coming to Downtown Springfield excites current business owners.

"Well, hopefully, that would bring more people in," said Danielle Stone, Downtown Business Owner. "Of course, down here, hopefully update more of the buildings down here, maybe a fresher look, maybe bring in more restaurants hopefully, I think we could always benefit from that."

This new effort to revitalize downtown will enhance efforts started when the Mars Theater opened in 2014 after years of being dormant, bringing new consumers to the downtown area

"They have an opportunity to see how quaint our downtown is," explained Allison Newberry, Mars Theater Director. "And what we can offer, the businesses here really support each other and we provide opportunities as well, we want to support local businesses."

The City of Springfield expects these tax credits to have its desired effects.

They're expecting at least a couple of more businesses to set up shop downtown sometime this year.